| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make or become better |
| Synonyms: | advance, ameliorate, amend, augment, better, boost, civilize, come around, convalesce, correct, cultivate, develop, doctor up, edit, elevate, emend, enhance, gain ground, help, increase, lift, look up, make strides, meliorate, mend, perk up, pick up*, polish, progress, promote, purify, raise, rally, recover, rectify, recuperate, refine, reform, revamp, revise, rise, set right, shape up, sharpen, skyrocket, straighten out, take off, touch up, turn the corner, update, upgrade |
| Antonyms: | damage, decline, decrease, diminish, harm, hurt, injure, weaken, worsen |
| Main Entry: | advance |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | increase in amount, number, or position |
| Synonyms: | boost, break the bank, develop, elevate, enlarge, get fat, get rich, grade, grow, hit pay dirt, hit the jackpot, improve, magnify, make a killing, make out, multiply, pan out, prefer, prosper, raise, strike gold, strike it rich, thrive, up, upgrade, uplift |
| Notes: | advance means 'steady progress' and stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end, while advancement suggests progression that is bigger, more, or beyond normal |
| Antonyms: | decrease, take back, withdraw |
| Main Entry: | ameliorate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make, become better |
| Synonyms: | alleviate, amend, help, improve, lighten, meliorate, mitigate, relieve, step up, upgrade |
| Antonyms: | worsen |
| Main Entry: | appreciate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | increase in worth |
| Synonyms: | enhance, gain, grow, improve, inflate, raise the value of, rise |
| Notes: | the use of 'appreciate' should involve valuing something or understanding it sympathetically, and when there is no value or sympathy, use 'recognize' or 'understand'; appreciate first meant 'set at a price; appraised' |
| Antonyms: | decrease, depreciate, lose value |
| Main Entry: | beautify |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make more physically attractive |
| Synonyms: | adorn, array, bedeck, deck, decorate, dress up, embellish, enhance, garnish, gild, glamorize, grace, improve, make up, ornament, prettify, set off, trim |
| Antonyms: | disfigure, harm, injure, mar, spoil |
| Main Entry: | benefit |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | help, enhance |
| Synonyms: | advance, advantage, aid, ameliorate, assist, avail, be good for, better, build, contribute to, do for one, do the trick, favor, fill the bill, further, improve, make a killing, make it, pay, pay off, profit, promote, relieve, serve, succor, work for |
| Antonyms: | handicap, harm, hinder, hurt, injure |
| Main Entry: | brighten |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | make happy, feel better |
| Synonyms: | become cheerful, buck up, buoy up, cheer, cheer up, clear up, encourage, enliven, gladden, hearten, improve, look up, perk up |
| Antonyms: | depress, upset |
| Main Entry: | build |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | increase, accelerate |
| Synonyms: | aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, compound, develop, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, heighten, improve, intensify, magnify, mount, multiply, strengthen, swell, wax |
| Notes: | billed is having a beak or having been presented a statement of costs or charges, while build is to construct |
| Antonyms: | decelerate, decrease, destroy, ruin |
| Main Entry: | build up |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | amplify, advertise |
| Synonyms: | add to, boost, develop, enhance, expand, extend, fortify, heighten, hype, improve, increase, intensify, plug*, promote, publicize, puff, reinforce, spotlight, strengthen |
| Antonyms: | lessen, let down, play down, weaken |